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When you have your sights set on crossing the world's second-largest country, it's an understatement to say that you have a lot of choices. Traveling cross-country in an RV means you'll get to sleep in the same bed every night, but you'll still have to decide where to camp, the sights you'll visit and what to bring. For an endeavor this large, start planning as early as possible and assemble all of your reservations, travel documents and activity ideas into one large binder that you can keep in a handy location.

Driving into Canada

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident, you won't need a visa to enter Canada, but you will need a valid passport. As of 2014, children under 16 only need a birth certiﬁcate, but that too could change, so check the U.S. Department of State's Canada website page before you go. If both of the child's parents are not present, you'll also need a notarized permission letter from the child's parent or parents or proof that you're the child's sole guardian. In terms of the goods you can bring across borders, limit yourself to the camping gear, clothing and food items you'll use during the trip and you should be ﬁne. Canada imposes more tax on goods than you'll typically pay in the U.S., so it may be worth stocking up on groceries before you cross the border. Gas tends to be more expensive in Canada too, so fill up ahead of your crossing and be prepared for higher prices.

RV Documents

So long as your RV has valid tags and you're in possession of the registration and insurance, you should have no problem bringing your own RV into the country. If you're driving a rental or someone else's vehicle, you will also need a copy of the rental contract or a notarized letter giving you permission to drive the vehicle into Canada. Your U.S. driver's license will be valid for travel, though you should take some time to check out the laws in the provinces in which you're traveling. Each province has slightly different laws, and in Quebec, all trafﬁc signs are in French.

What to Expect at Campgrounds

Expect the campgrounds in Canada to provide similar amenities as back home. Some national parks and provincial parks provide full hookups and showers; some don't. Like the U.S., you'll also ﬁnd private campgrounds that offer additional amenities such as swimming pools and playgrounds. Sites such as Go RV Canada or the Parks Canada Reservation Service can be good places to start looking. Canada's warm season tends to be shorter than farther south, making the open campground season shorter. As such, campgrounds may ﬁll faster and reservations may be required further in advance. If you're calling a campground in Quebec, don't fret about the language barrier -- most people in the province speak English and French.

The Route

Before you book campsites, ﬁgure out your route. A natural choice is to follow the Trans-Canada Highway, the world's longest highway, which stretches more than 4,800 miles and through all 10 provinces. On the eastern end, you might stop to watch whales in Newfoundland and stay among the fjords at Gros Morne National Park. Drive alongside the world's highest tides at Fundy National Park near Sussex in New Brunswick, and then check out the French-inﬂuenced art and architecture in Quebec City. In Alberta, camp alongside the blue-green waters of Lake Louise before heading for the deep green woods and striking mountains of British Columbia. If you need help planning a route and choosing sites worth stopping for, Canada's ofﬁcial tourism page and the Trans Canada Highway's website are good places to start.